Essentials of Pharmacology for Health Professions

The book "Essentials of Pharmacology for Health Professions" is a comprehensive resource designed for students and professionals in allied health fields such as licensed practical nursing, medical assisting, and other related careers. Here is a detailed overview of the book:

Key Themes

1. Clinical Application: The book emphasizes clinical application to ensure readers understand the relevance of pharmacological material and its importance in practice.
2. Need-to-Know Drug Information: It focuses on providing clear, concise "need-to-know" drug information, which helps readers master pharmacology with confidence.
3. Simplified Learning Process: The text includes a simplified step-by-step process for learning calculations, making it easier for readers to grasp pharmacological concepts.
4. Organization by Classification: Part II of the book organizes drugs by classifications, including purpose, side effects, cautions, interactions, and contraindications. This helps readers understand the drugs in a structured manner.
5. Patient Education: The book highlights patient education for each category of drugs, emphasizing the importance of patient care and communication.

Plot Summary

The book is divided into two main parts:

1. Part I: Basic Pharmacologic Principles - This section covers fundamental principles of pharmacology, including medication preparation, supplies, and specific information on each route of administration. Administration checklists are provided to help learners apply their knowledge in practice.
2. Part II: Drugs by Classification - This section organizes drugs into various classifications, providing detailed information on each drug’s purpose, side effects, cautions, interactions, and contraindications. Reference tables list the most commonly prescribed drugs according to generic and trade names, along with dosage and available forms.

Critical Reception

• Goodreads Reviews: The book has received positive reviews on Goodreads, with many readers praising its clear and concise writing, which simplifies complex pharmacological material into manageable chapters.
• Overall Rating: The 9th edition of the book has an overall rating of 4.3 stars on BooksRun, indicating its popularity and effectiveness as a resource for allied health professionals.

Editions

The book has been published in several editions:

• 7th Edition: Available in paperback, this edition was published on March 26, 2014, by Cengage Learning. It is a best-selling resource for allied health careers and includes clear, concise writing focused on "need-to-know" drug information.
• 9th Edition: This edition, also published by Cengage Learning, continues to stress clinical application and provides updated information on pharmacology. It includes a MindTap course list for enhanced learning.

In summary, "Essentials of Pharmacology for Health Professions" by Bruce J. Colbert, Adam James, and Elizabeth D. Katrancha is a highly regarded textbook that simplifies pharmacological concepts, emphasizes clinical application, and provides comprehensive information on drugs for allied health professionals.